Videos

Dr. Kim Wiebe, the administrative lead of the Provincial MAiD Clinical Team, describes what medical assistance in dying is, who can provide it, who is eligible for it and how it’s being provided in Manitoba. She details the process for medical assistance in dying in Manitoba, focusing on the MAiD team, review process, written request and provision of MAiD.

Lori Lamont, Chief Nursing Officer with the WRHA, speaks to the role of nurses in assessing and relieving pain and suffering emphasizing the value of therapeutic discussion. She outlines the professional responsibilities of nurses related to their own knowledge of MAiD, sharing information and supporting informed decision making. In addition, she acknowledges conscience based objection and suggests a process for reflecting on values and ensuring patients receive appropriate care.

Jennifer Dunsford, Director of Ethics for the WRHA, defines conscience based objection and the obligations that every health-care provider has related to medical assistance in dying. She emphasizes the value of therapeutic communication in context of assessing and relieving suffering and recognizes the trust a patient must have in a health-care provider to bring up assisted dying with them. In addition, the three steps that must occur after a patient has asked about assisted death: acknowledge, respond & convey are described.

Erin Little, Client Care Coordinator with the MAiD Team, describes the nursing role including: triage of patient requests, participation in reviewing for eligibility and provision of MAiD as well as bereavement care for families. She describes a values assessment process for nurses considering which portions of the MAiD process they are comfortable participating in and emphasizes that the conversations nurses have with their patients around suffering, symptom management and informed choice don’t need to change.

Fred Nelson and Megan McLeod, social workers with the provincial MAiD clinical team, talk about providing support to patients, families and healthcare providers as patients consider MAID as an option. They reflect on supporting patients and families through difficult conversations about emotions, personal and family history, anticipated futures, navigating complicated relationships, suffering and the meaning of suffering and goals of care. In addition, they reflect on the value of speaking with a patient’s existing health-care team to maintain continuity of care and support them through new and difficult situations related to MAiD.

Shawn Bugden, Associate Professor, University of Manitoba College of Pharmacy, describes the role of pharmacists in palliative and end of life care and what impact MAiD might have on their practice. He notes that most pharmacists in Manitoba are unlikely to be asked to dispense medications for MAiD but acknowledges the crucial role pharmacists already have in end of life discussions with patients and their families. Included in this video are suggestions for navigating conscience based objection and the professional obligations of pharmacists.

Dr. Mike Harlos, Medical Director, WRHA Palliative Care, provides strategies for health-care providers to use in difficult discussions with their patients. He provides specific suggestions for introducing difficult topics and responding to unexpected questions. A helpful article, Sit Down, Lean In, written by Dr. Harlos describes strategies for engaging with those who are suffering.

Caitlin Buchel, Speech Language Pathologist with the MAiD Team, describes the role of the speech language pathologist (SLP) in evaluating a patient’s communication abilities and supporting a patient with significant communication impairment. This may include strategies to support their comprehension and expression or acting as a communication intermediary. She acknowledges the responsibility of SLPs to help those who have difficulty communicating be heard because so often they are not.